Spectrum Irish Jig
Photo by Scott Sullivan: Fred Bunn (left) and Matt Smith battle during Spectrum Health Irish Jig. Smith finished in 16:07 and Bunn finished in 16:09.

GRAND RAPIDS (3/16) - Begorrah! If it wasn't Monica Joyce herself rolling to first place in the 19th annual Spectrum Health Irish Jig.

The 43-year-old former Irish Olympian joined Michigan State University assistant track coach Kyle Baker blazing to triumphs in Michigan Runner's 2002 5-kilometer championship race.

T'was a grand day, indeed, for the wearin' o' the green.

Both champs dominated a record field of 2,800 entries on this sun- spangled, chilly day. Baker, 26, bolted quickly to the front, turning 4:37 and 4:50 miles en route to his third-straight win here, in 14:56. Aquinas College standout Kevin Smith, of Ionia, crossed 20 seconds back. "I run faster when I'm pressed, but today was a good, hard workout," said Baker, who shared the 2001 Michigan Runner of the Year award with Amy Wing of Grand Rapids. Wing, 32, sat out and saved her stamina for a different test: she and her husband, Matthew, expect a child in May.

Joyce, who ran for the Emerald Isle in the 1984 Summer Games, finished her circuit through quaint oldtown neighborhoods in 17:00. Ann (Boyd) Stewart, Jig queen three years ago, placed runnerup in 17:59.

Joyce and Baker brought home $600 each, plus early points leads in this year's 13-race Michigan Runner of the Year series. Earning winning masters' points, and $150 each, were Dave Furey of Ann Arbor (16:00) and - because

Joyce took overall honors - Laurie Decker of Cadillac (18:32). Though few in the field had illusions of sharing the $3,400 Jig pot o' gold, all enjoyed festivities that included a health expo, $100 contest for the best-dressed leprechaun, and general conviviality that goes with the start of race season. Less-elites observed that the course, which began and ended at the Riverfront Fitness Center, twice passed an edifice known as Rocky's Chews/Booze Lounge.

How many repaired to the latter for Hibernian-style hydration, few can say.

MALES, OVERALL: Kyle Baker 14:56, Kevin Smith 15:16, Aaron Usher 15:22; MASTERS: Dave Furey 16:00, Brian Olsen 16:25, Ron Zywicki 16:34; AGES 9 & UNDER: Drew Lockwood 22:19, Erik Bates 22:47, Kennan Sullivan 22:53; 10-12: Ethan Earnest 19:31, Trevor Oseland 21:00, Sean McGee 22:40; 13-14: Andrew Bissonette 19:05, Jeffrey Kosters 19:50, Neil LaVoie 20:34; 15-18: Eric Graf 16:22, Sam Shewan 16:31, Lance Betts 16:36; 19-24: Kevin Smith 15:16, Aaron Usher 15:22, Travis Clement 16:07; 25-29: Kyle Baker 14:56, Nathan Dorn 15:35, Robert Hyde 15:47; 30-34: Peter Casaletto 15:22, Joe Cantwell 16:51, Jim Misiewicz 17:00; 35-39: Fred Bunn 16:09, Tomas Kosmak 16:18, Russell DeRoos 16:49; 40-44: Dave Furey 16:00, Brian Olsen 16:25, Ron Zywicki 16:34; 45-49: Steve Hulst 17:15, Kevin Cusack 17:24, Craig North 17:39; 50-54: Dennis Grantz 17:24, Peter Hallop 17:48, Ken DeBack 18:22; 55-59: Wally Herrala 17:54, Edison Murillo 20:15, Steve Plaisted 20:19; 60-64: Doug Goodhue 17:54, Alan Toms 23:15, Donald Chaffee Jr. 23:41; 65 & UP: Brian Harris 19:05, Frank Wolf 21:30, Edward Yob 21:54.

FEMALES, OVERALL: Monica Joyce 17:00, Ann Stewart 17:59, Janet Becker 18:15 MASTERS: Laurie Decker 18:32, Theresa Kopach 19:37; AGES 9 & UNDER: Jessica Reidt 27:15, Kayla Reidt 28:56, Emily Brown 37:20; 10-12: Erin Johnson 23:05, Kelsie Sullivan 24:41, Kelsey Sterkenburg 26:32; 13-14: Kristina Olsen 20:59, Laura Malnor 21:00, Jessica Armstrong 21:31; 15-18: Kristi Powers 20:15, Rebecca Flanders 21:17, Corey Hickner 21:17; 19-24: Jami Grant 18:49, Jenny Millis 20:05, Erin Clason 20:16; 25-29: Janet Becker 18:10, Traci Smith 20:09, Amy Busse 20:37; 30-34: Tammy Casaletto 18:22, Diane Bunn 18:55, Tara Motely 21:18; 35-39: Ann Stewart 17:59, Gayle Kuipers 19:15, Cheryl O'Keefe 19:30; 40-44: Monica Joyce 17:00, Laurie Decker 18:32, Theresa Kopach 19:37; 45-49: Robin Sarris 19:57, Nancy Fazio 20:21, Maria Wordelman 20:53; 50-54: Brenda Lynch 20:40, Janet Elgersma 23:24, Janet Casterton 23:59; 55- 59: Diane Arbanas 24:10, Kathy Neal 27:18, Joyce Vermaas 28:16; 60- 64: Judi Bass 28:08, Francine Bangs 28:43, Lorraine Boyd 32:58; 65 & UP: Liz Lancaster 25:15, Janice Ries 29:39, Elizabeth Updyke 31:24. Complete results are available onlineat www.classicrace.com. MR